Posted on 06/17/2017 6:27:23 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Study shows 78 percent of pharmacists knew penicillin allergy can resolve itself over time compared to 55 percent of physicians.
Although most pharmacists know penicillin allergies can resolve over time, a new study found that many doctors are not aware of that.
The study, by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, analyzed 276 surveys completed by non-allergist physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and pharmacists at Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, N.Y., and found more than 80 percent of the general practitioners surveyed knew a referral to an allergist for testing is recommended for a person with a reported penicillin allergy. Many physicians, though, had either never referred patients or had done so with only one patient a year.
The pharmacists surveyed seemed to have a better overall understanding of penicillin allergy, particularly that it can resolve over time.
"We were not surprised pharmacists understood the course of penicillin allergy better than other clinicians, given more extensive pharmacology education," Mary Staicu, infectious diseases pharmacist, said in a press release. "Of those surveyed, 78 percent of pharmacists knew penicillin allergy can resolve over time. Only 55 percent of the remaining respondents [non-allergist physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners] did. The survey also showed a limited understanding among internists and general practitioners regarding the large numbers of people who report penicillin allergy but have never been tested."
Roughly 10 to 20 percent of Americans report having a penicillin allergy, however, previous research shows that number to be only 10 percent with true penicillin allergies.
"Our research found a poor understanding of penicillin allergy among non-allergists," allergist Dr. Allison Ramsey said. "This was not a surprising finding given the clinical experience of most allergists, but it does provide an excellent opportunity for education on the topic - not just for patients, but for all health care professionals."
Penicillin allergies can resolve as a person ages, but many adults diagnosed as children have not been retested to see if they still have the allergy -- resulting in unnecessary avoidance in some cases.
People who report having a penicillin allergy are prescribed second-line antibiotics, which may have a higher risk of side effects and increased cost.
"More than 90 percent of people labeled with a penicillin allergy can tolerate penicillin-based antibiotics," Ramsey said. "Our survey showed only 30 percent of physician survey respondents knew that. It's important that doctors understand the importance of confirming penicillin allergy. But it's even more important that those who carry the label be educated and tested."
The study was published in the June edition of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
This is of interest to me, since I developed an allergy to penicillin when I was hospitalized back in 2003. I wonder if it has resolved.
I’m curious too. I was given penicillin about 20 years ago, when I had a very bad flu and complications. After a few days on it, my knee joints started swelling up. I told the doc, and he got me off the penicillin.
I’ve never known if that was an allergy or not, but have assumed on the safe side that it was.
My experience with pharmacists informs me that they are much more knowledgeable than doctors when it come to pharmaceuticals.
My mom found she was allergic to penicillin when she had pneumonia in 1969 and nearly died. She hasn’t tried it since. There are other antibiotics.
I’m allergic to sulfa - learned it when I had pinkeye in 1994. My eyes swelled up and turned red like tomatoes and dripped slimy ooze. They wouldn’t let me come to work, no matter how many times I said it wasn’t contagious.
A rather rediculous comparison when you consider that a pharamists’ specialty is medications, indicated use, and possible interactions. Does the pharmacist know how to install a cardiac stent?
Some how, we acquired a pad of doctors Prescription blanks.
A typed note with a scrawl was good for cutting any test
To whom it may concern:
Mr Bert is suffering from a penicillin reaction and should be excused from classes for two days
Interesting! I;m not allergic, but it messes up my thinking. I get confused when I have taken it,
Methicillin is no longer used in the USA or Canada as it may cause interstitial nephritis which I had once 60 years ago. I’ve heard that the carrying agent may have been the problem and the old fashioned tree moss technique may still be a viable treatment.
Exactly! I was going to say the same thing, but you’ve saved me the trouble.
Penicillin gives my stomach hell.
I have practiced medicine for 36 years including general medicine, emergency medicine, and occupational medicine. I deal with the penicillin allergy every day. Some observations.. In the 1940s’ 1950s’ and forward many people were prescribed penicillin for viral illnesses. The natural course of the illness is fever followed by a rash when the fever breaks. Many were labeled allergic when they developed their viral rash while taking the ineffective penicillin. Another story I was told during my medical training (needs confirmation) was that injectable penicillin was in a bees wax matrix when it first came on the scene and that the wax was an allergen that caused a reaction. I have learned to question penicillin allergies by asking “what did it do to you?” I have received answers such as “made me nauseous”,”I didn’t like it”, “It didn’t help me” ALL listed as penicillin allergies.
I have a “real” allergy to penicillin. Only occurred in the last couple of years (I’m in my 60’s). Caused anaphylactic shock. That’s what happens to people with peanut allergies, etc. I had to get to a hospital for treatment. No more penicillin for me.
Here’s one for you. About 15 years ago, I developed a bad reaction to all (so far) antibiotics. Started with Amox, but everything I have tried since has caused the same reaction.
About 3-4 days after I begin to take it, the skin on my hands starts to blister & peel. The skin around my nails hardens to the point that it causes my nail beds to buckle..it take months to grow the deep “lines” out. It’s like I’ve been poisoned. I have told this (and shown this) to every Doctor I have seen, and they are bewildered.
The last time (about 2 years ago) it was much worse. Blisters and skin shedding on the bottom of my feet & in my mouth/throat. I went to the Emergency Room (because it was on a Sunday), where a physician’s assistant...using a book...I kid you not, decided that it was nothing to worry about. She sent me home.
On Monday, my regular Doc gave me steroids to stop the worsening reaction. Also said that I should have an epi-pen on hand when (in the future) we would try the newer classes of antibiotics to see if those would work.
When I went to the pharmacist to get the steroids, I showed her my hands and told her what had been going on...she said “looks like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome...that’s not good.”
She’s the only one that has seemed concerned. No idea what to do about that except to not take antibiotics...I’m doing everything I can to avoid them.
Figure it will eventually kill me if I have to have IV antibiotics for some reason. I’ll end up as a “case” on one of those rare diseases TV shows....lol.
Ever since a “possible” allergic reaction to Amoxicillin 20 years ago no doctor will prescribe any in the class and instead I’ve been routinely prescribed Cefaclor, Ceclor, and Keflex with the latter also rendering a possible reaction after having been fine with it prior. This article reminds me I should go get tested. I have expressed my interest in doing such but it’s been blown off by my health care providers. I have a definite allergy to the Tetracycline class, prescription antacid, and also contrast dyes so it is possible there’s an autoimmune disorder or something.
Yep. Especially if you can find one that wants to give you the time of day, they are invaluable for information. I had one such pharmacist for years before we moved away. I still miss him sometimes lol. He always happily answered any questions I had with the intent to educate even beyond my specific inquiry.
Zithromax did me in once. Vomiting would not stop. Had to go to ER for IV of the wondrous drug Zofran. Though I’ve since found out it’s not so effective for an actual stomach flu. Though to be fair it was a particularly bad case I had that Christmas.
My symptom when I was told over the phone to stop taking it just in case was simply an overall itchy, skin crawling sensation. I don’t believe I even had any kind of rash involved.
What kind of specialists have you seen? Dermatologist, allergist, immunologist?
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